1. Simplicité Instant Help Gel
This refreshing eye gel soothes, calms and reduces redness and puffiness. I haven't tried it enough to be able to report long-term results, but it definitely feels very light and refreshing on the skin, and is perfect for more humid weather. It also reduces puffiness a little bit immediately upon application.

2. Simplicité Firming Rehydration Eye Creme
The firming Rehydration Eye Creme can be used in conjunction with the Instant Help Gel, and it is a light, yet hydrating creme. It is also meant to firm the skin underneath the eye, and reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes as well. I have high hopes for both these eye creams, and am testing them out as I type. More to come once I've trialled them enough!

3. History of Whoo Hwanyu Eye Cream
History of Whoo is a luxury Korean skincare brand that uses absolute premium products to create a brand that most claim work incredibly effectively. I was intrigued by the hype online, and decided to purchase a small, sample sized version of their Hwanyu Eye Cream. It was only when I was almost finished using my 5ml sample that I found out that among the ingredients used to create this cream is deer antlers. I was absolutely horrified.
Overall, the cream was indeed as luxurious as it is made out to be. It has a waxy sort of texture that immediately melts into this viscous cream that glides onto the skin and sinks into the skin easily. I did see a marked improvement in the appearance of the skin underneath my eyes - the little lines were so much less obvious, and my undereye area looked hydrated and smooth. I wouldn't repurchase this though, just because it was so expensive, and more importantly because I don't agree with the ingredients used in this particular formulation.

4. Kosmea Apple of My Eye Cream
Kosmea has always been a brand that I love - their rosehip oil is something I really enjoy using in the winter time, and always keeps my skin hydrated, radiant, and supple. This eye cream comes with a little applicator-cum-dispenser that smooths the product onto your skin easily.  I think this eye cream would have worked equally beautifully had it been wintertime when I used it, but I started using it only once I landed in Malaysia, and though it kept my undereye area well hydrated, it was a little too rich for my eyes and I started developing the tiniest spots of milia around my eyes. I think this is still a very beautiful eye cream, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you have oily skin, and certainly not if you have oily skin and live in a warm, humid country.

5. Dermalogica UltraSmoothing Eye Serum
This is by far the lightest in texture and the most beautiful smelling eye product of this group - granted because it is an eye serum and not a cream (does that mean that you can/should follow up with an eye cream? I have no idea - if anyone knows, please leave a comment and tell me!). I've always loved Dermalogica products because they smell beautiful - I wish my room smelled like Dermalogica all the time - and always have such a calming effect on me (I only just looked back at the name and realised that this eye serum is from the UltraCalming range. How fitting!).
This serum has helped to soothe the puffiness around my eyes quite a bit since I started using it, and I am quite impressed. Puffiness is a big issue for me because the puffiness makes me look tired, and let's face it, undereye bags are not attractive. I would recommend this for anyone with puffy eyes, and if you're looking for something that reduces fine lines, perhaps use this together with the Kosmea eye cream if you have dry skin, or the Simplicité eye creme if you have more oily skin.

Do you have any eye creams to recommend? I have such a problem with lines underneath my eyes, so any recommendations are welcome!

Concealers are a difficult product to get right, particularly undereye concealers. They need to:

- Keep the undereye area hydrated
- NOT settle into the fine lines under the eyes
- Be lightweight and thin so there is no caking
- Neutralise the purple/green undertones in dark circles

After trialling countless concealers, I have narrowed my favourites down to three fabulous products. Here they are:


1. Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch
This is probably my absolute favourite out of the three - an extremely lightweight, light reflecting concealer that does wonders for the undereye area.
Because of its light texture, it neither cakes nor settles into fine lines underneath the eyes. But despite its lightness, it is still extremely pigmented and a little bit goes a long way. This concealer contains a small amount of light-reflecting pigments, so make sure not to over-apply it, especially if you're going to be under the sun or in flash photography.

Something I don't like about this concealer is the packaging - Giorgio Armani hasn't engineered it quite right - because the concealer keeps leaking into the edges of the screw top cover, making a mess every time I open it up. The applicator also irks me a little - I'm not sure why they've done it this way, but the applicator is extremely thin (quite like a fine eyeliner brush), making it difficult to disperse the product appropriately across my undereye area.

2. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer 
Coming in a close second is the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer - well known for its wide range of colours and creamy, hydrating texture. I originally purchased this for the rest of my face, which is why I didn't purchase it in a different undertone. What is so fabulous about this range of concealers is that they have the precise undertones that you need to counteract the dark circles underneath your eyes.

A little tip when it comes to looking for an appropriate undereye concealer for your dark circles: if you have purple dark circles, wear a yellow-toned concealer. If you have bluish circles, look for a peachy toned concealer. And finally, if you have green circles, look for a pink-toned concealer.

This concealer blends beautifully into the skin. I use it with a fluffy blending brush, and then pat it in with my fingers to warm the product up and help it blend into my skin. It is so pigmented and doesn't settle into fine lines, either. It is much thicker than the other concealers in this list, but it somehow works really well.

The downside to this concealer is that it can be a little rich for some people. Though your undereye area should be well-hydrated when you apply concealer, if you have very oily skin, it might be best to get a sample of this and try it out set with a powder before you buy.

3. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
I have actually reviewed this concealer in a previous post, and it is still one of my favourites. It is equally as lightweight as the Giorgio Armani concealer, only slightly less pigmented. Don't get me wrong, though! Most light-reflecting concealers are quite sheer and don't quite cover dark circles, but the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind does. It looks very natural on the skin, and does not cake or settle into fine lines.

I use the colour 02 Light. There is a 'brightener' version of this concealer, but I wouldn't recommend it because it is a lot less pigmented than the normal concealers, and doesn't counteract the undertones in dark circles.

The sponge applicator is less than ideal because it does raise some hygiene issues, but other than that, I love what you get for the price!

I will be reviewing these concealers and many more in more detail on my blog, but I hope you enjoyed this post!

A while back, I was contacted by luxury Taiwanese skincare brand Apehlia Cosmetology, which is being distributed across Asia and the US, and had only just launched in Australia. I was invited to pick out products that I would like to review. One line in particular stood out for me, and that was the Nuwa eye care set.


The Nuwa eye care set is an anti-ageing eye care duo, made up of the Peony eye cream and the Fusion eye serum for dark circles.

Aphelia utilises the knowledge amassed by hundreds of years of traditional Chinese herbal medicine to formulate their products, and this eye cream duo is no exception. Here is what I thought of this duo:

Packaging


The packaging did not disappoint with this range! The Peony eye cream comes in a plastic airless-pump bottle, and the Fusion serum comes in a glass vial with a rollerball applicator. Both are easy to apply and look beautiful on the dresser.

Product
The serum is a lightweight, watery formula, which applies easily and takes about a minute or so to absorb into the skin.
Once the serum is absorbed, you can apply the eye cream, which is very rich and yet quite light and fluffy, but it does leave a greasy film behind once applied.

Performance
I have used this eye care duo for just over two months now, and I finally feel like I have gotten enough of a feel for it to be able to give you a full overview of its performance for me.

I have combination/oily skin, and never thought of my eyes as a problem area before. Lately, I have developed a few tiny wrinkles directly underneath my eyes, in the inner corners. This eye cream did not work on those wrinkles, sadly, but I also do not see any new ones forming, which I take as a sign that this cream does indeed work.
One other thing I want to mention about this eye cream is that it is incredibly rich, and therefore may not be suited to anyone who has oily skin, or is vulnerable to milia forming around the eye area. My own eye area has formed a couple of tiny bumps since using this eye cream, so I will be switching this cream out for something less heavy. If you have dry skin, definitely give this a go because it is very hydrating and, in my opinion, works a treat to prevent wrinkles from forming.

The eye serum is a total rockstar! Before I started using this, I had to cover my undereye area with concealer before I even contemplated setting foot out of the house, because my undereye area was quite dark, and just drew my features in and made me look so tired and sallow. Recently, however, I have begun to notice that I no longer need an undereye concealer to brighten my eyes, and the area underneath them is looking so much better! If you're looking to get something to combat dark undereye circles then this might be just the thing for you!

Price
This duo costs $99.95 and can be purchased on the Aphelia Cosmetology website.

These products were sent for the purposes of review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Hi everyone! As promised, I am kicking off my concealer review posts. Everyone wants to find that elusive undereye concealer that does everything - reduce the appearance of puffy eyes, disguise dark circles, and brighten the eye area.

One concealer that I have found to be pretty amazing is this Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment. I'm going to make this review simple and to-the-point, so you get the exact information that you need without having to waste any time.

Pros:
Lightweight - does not cake under the eyes, and does not sink into the lines under the eyes.
Brightening - both the Brightening and the Light shades brighten the eyes instantly and make me look younger and awake! 60 Brightening can be layered underneath your regular concealer to lift and correct dark circles.
Affordable - for such an effective product, this is so affordable. Plus, it is on sale at Priceline now - 20% off!
Haloxyl - This ingredient helps to absorb and get rid of coloured blood pigments (these cause dark circles).
Pigment - very little product covers up dark circles very well.
Easy to apply - I don't need any brushes to apply this - I just put it straight onto my skin from the tube, and then pat it out with my ring finger.

Here are some swatches of the product on my skin to show you how it works.




Cons:
I haven't tested this on very, very dark circles.
Sponge applicator - although I do find the sponge tip applicator very useful as it spreads the product out pretty evenly without me having to use a brush, it seems a little unhygienic.

The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment retails at AUD 18.95 (before discount) per 6mL tube.

This product was sent for review and consideration purposes in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Hi everyone! I have the 'luminous skin' tutorial that I promised, finally uploaded and live!

It is a pretty simple look, done using very few brushes, and is quick and easy to do.

Here are a couple of pictures of the finished look:


And here is the video!



Products mentioned:

Simplicité Oil Controlled Day Cream
Shu Uemura UV Tsuya Skin Primer
Luview Aqua Essence Whitening BB Cream
Kanebo KATE Eyebrow Pencil in BR-1
Clinique Lid Smoothie Antioxidant Eye Color in Cashew Later
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow in Bronzed Taupe
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio (for blue eyes)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory
Tom Ford Cheek Color in Narcissist
Hello Kitty Magnetic Gloss

One thing I didn't mention in the video is that in order to make everything look more natural, you can finish the look off with the Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer Mist (mentioned in a Favourites video), a setting spray that adds dewiness and a fresh glow to your skin. This will also help play down the highlighter to make the look more wearable for daytime.

I hope you guys enjoyed the tutorial. Thanks so much for watching! x

Hi everyone! I got my internet connection back a couple of days ago and I immediately started working on editing my video so that I could get something up as soon as possible. I'm finally posting the Orchid-inspired makeup tutorial and I hope you guys like it!

Products used:


Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup in Fresh Neutral
NVEY Eco Organic Erase Concealer
Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express Kit in Brunette
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Sex
Sleek i-Divine Mineral Eyeshadow Palette in Circus
Illamasqua Fundamental Palette
ck one color Liquid Eyeliner Marker in The Drama
L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Highlighter Pen
Sleek Luminous Pressed Powder in 01
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate in Intensity One
Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Color in Posy
NYX Round Lipstick in Fig
NYX Brush on Gloss in Lilac Fields

Hello everyone! I just posted a new video - my eyeliner application tips, tricks, and beauty secrets :)

I love wearing eyeliner. I love how it darkens my eyes, I love how it defines my eyes, and I love how with a little flick, I can change my eye shape and create an entirely different makeup look.

I have tried out a lot of different eyeliners, and a lot of different application techniques, and this video shares as many of those tips that I can remember.

Here's the video, I hope you enjoy it!



Here's a list of the products I mentioned:

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Deepest Black (AUD 14.95)
Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner in Black (unavailable in Australia - try eBay for some great deals)
Clinique Quickliner for Eyes Intense in Intense Plum (AUD 34)
Sisley Phyto Khol Star Glittering Eyeliner in Dark Amethyst (review and swatches here)
Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in True Black
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Face of Australia Liquid Eyeliner

Thank you so much for watching :)

Happy hump day, girlies! I am reviewing a product from New York skincare brand EmerginC today - the EmerginC Eyelight Eye Cream, to be exact!

EmerginC: An active, nourishing cream with super-antioxidant astaxanthin, Derm SRC™ with bamboo and pea extracts, Aquacell™ with watermelon rind and lentil extracts, grape stem cells, apple extract, rose hip, olive oil, shea butter and more, designed to fight the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and under-eye circles, while hydrating and brightening.

Packaging
This came boxed, with a glass jar and a screw on top. The quality of the packaging is impeccable, but I would have liked it if the design of the packaging reflected better the prestige and luxury of the product.

I did, however, really enjoy the PR packaging that it came in - it was such a small touch but it made a wonderful impression! There were small little grapes filling the box in which the cream was contained. Love it!


Product
The eye cream is light and spreads easily. It takes a few minutes to really absorb into the skin, but once it does, it doesn't leave any trace of greasiness on the skin.
It smells citrusy, which isn't quite surprising, given that the cream is from a brand called emerginC! The smell is slightly stronger than 'subtle', so if you are sensitive to smells, you were warned.

Performance
I think this is a great eye cream if you're looking for something to combat early signs of wrinkles or fine lines. It is hydrating, and sits well underneath makeup. I have noticed that my undereye area is more hydrated, and the skin underneath my eye has never been in better condition. It has reduced my undereye puffiness slightly, but not completely.

Overall, I think this is a fantastic product. There are only two things that I am unsure of with this product:

1. I didn't find that the darkness underneath my eyes was lightened - they remain the same.
2. The $65 price tag is a little much, especially for someone with my budget.

This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Hi guys! Today I'd like to introduce to you a Korean brand that I've recently become acquainted with - Luview. They are a brand new cosmetic brand focusing on base products, and I have up for review today their star product, the Crystal Cover BB Cream, and their Gleam Full Long Lash Mascara.

Crystal Cover BB Cream


The packaging is gorgeous! It comes in a cylinder with a pink pearl finish. The pump mechanism works beautifully and pumps out just the right amount for the face. I also love that this comes with SPF 30 - sun protection is a big thing for me. I never leave the house without at least an SPF 30 on.

According to Luview, this cream is infused with tiny crystal particles that give the skin a luminous glow. Here is a picture of me with the BB cream applied with a buffing brush. I find that a buffing brush or a stippling brush is the best way to apply this cream, because it really works the product in. I found that applying this with my hands caused the product to just sit on top of my skin in a really unnatural way.


I don't see any obvious glitter or shimmer with this cream, which I am really glad for. I was worried that the aforementioned crystal particles would be too large and make me look like I blasted myself with a glitter gun. If anything, there is a subtle glow, but nothing you wouldn't find with other BB creams on the market.

BB creams are famous for providing great coverage for acne-prone skin, so this was something I made sure to take note of with this BB cream. The cream offered medium coverage for my little acne scars. In the picture above, I am not using any concealer, and you can still see faint scars on my cheeks.

It also evened out my skintone very well. It sets semi-matte, and I didn't need any powder or blotting papers to keep my skin reasonably matte throughout the day.

Overall, this is a good BB cream, rivalling a lot of creams that I've tried before. If you're looking for a BB cream with really good coverage, then you might want to try Missha, Skin Food, or Elishacoy. If you only need medium coverage, then this is definitely a BB cream you should keep in mind!

Gleam Full Long Lash Mascara


As with most other mascaras in the Korean and Japanese market, this mascara is a fibre-coat mascara. It is very buildable, and the fibres in this mascara are quite large.


This mascara extends, thickens, and defines my lashes beautifully. It is a little bit more buildable than my favourite Majolica Majorca mascara.

However, I don't use this mascara on its own, because I experienced some problems with it in my first few applications. Because the fibres on this mascara are so large and therefore kind of heavy, they tend to travel before the mascara finally sets. When they travel, they can end up in that flesh in between your lashes and your eye, and poke at and irritate your eye. It's nothing drastic, but it is very uncomfortable.
I have found that the way to avoid this is to coat your lashes (especially the base of your lashes) with a volumnizing (this is my personal preference; you can use any kind) mascara, and then layer this mascara on top of that one, staying away from the base of your lashes.

When this mascara sets, it does not budge! Much like the Majolica Majorca mascara, it withstands water and humidity, and can only be removed with a makeup remover.

These products are quite affordable, and can be purchased online at the Luview store. Luview is also offering free shipping with the code OPEN2012, so get on there quick if you are interested!

This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share with you a simple tutorial today. It's something I've never tried - a red smoky eye. It's probably not for everyone, and quite frankly, I'm not sure I would wear it for any occasion other than Chinese New Year (where red and gold are the dominant colours).


I tried to make it as subtle as possible, so it's more wearable. I hope you guys enjoy!

Hi guys! I'm experiencing a little blogger's block at the moment - I can't seem to decide what I want to blog about! I decided to post about Mirenesse's eyelash curler today, to share with you my thoughts on this contraption of wonder.


The Mirenesse iCurl has a design common to heated eyelash curlers - there is a lever that you flick up and down to turn the device on and off, a textured thumb pad that pushes upwards which controls the curler's clamp mechanism, and three heated silicone pads (more about that later) that start out red, but turn white upon reaching the correct temperature.

If you read my blog you'll know that I have nonexistent lashes. I'm talking little twigs of nothingness that point straight downwards like the strands of a willow tree, only more sparse and nowhere near as beautiful.

I tried this eyelash curler on myself, only to realise that not only are my lashes stick-straight and sparser than the strands of hair on Homer Simpson's head, my eyes are also flat - almost two-dimensional. How depressing. As a result, it is physically impossible for the eyelash curler to catch all my lashes. So the pictures I have posted here are of my sister's eye.



This eyelash curler is difficult to use at first. Where there are usually two silicone pads that clamp together to create curl, in this curler there are three. This is meant to create a less angular, more curved curl. Because of the way the curler is constructed, and the movement you need to make to clamp the curler shut, I find myself worried that I might pinch my eyelids (which did happen once, upon which I jerked my head a little too violently, promptly pulling out a couple of eyelashes before I finally had the sense to let go and release my eyelashes from the clamp). I still haven't quite gotten the hang of it yet, but it is getting a little easier to use each time I attempt to curl my lashes with it.

As you can see in the picture, where the curler manages to catch the eyelash, the curl comes out beautiful and curved. The curl holds beautifully, even after being weighed down by clumpy, heavy mascara, and lasts the entire day, even through humid weather.

However, the issue that both my sister and I experience when using this eyelash curler is that the pads are to curved to properly fit our eye shape. We either end up pinching our eyelids, or failing to catch all the eyelashes on the lashline, resulting in, from the middle of the eye outwards, beautiful lashes, then lashes that bend at weird angles, to stick straight, downward-pointing lashes.

I highly recommend this eyelash curler for you ladies with rounded eyes, because you will not regret this purchase! The iCurl creates beautiful, lasting curl. However, if you have flat eyes like most Asians do, then it would probably be best to check the curve of this curler against your eye shape before you purchase.

This eyelash curler retails for AUD 39.95 and can be found on their website.

This product was provided for review and consideration in accordance with this site's Disclosure Policy.